Randolph (CV 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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True fhere were obsfacles and difficulfies, buf by fhe fime fhe ship was ready for ifs shakedown cruise, Fox Broadcasfs were no longer feared by fhe newesf novice, nor were fhe flag hoisfs and flashing lighf fheir nemesis. The Posf Office was doing a land office busi- ness as any censor will affesf. The prinf shop was finally emerging from under ifs deluge of prinfers lice and priorify orders. The Yeoman really felf fhe cuf of fhe swafh, for fhey were placed in various deparfmenfs of fhe ship and bid our deparfmenf adieu . Having puf fhe frial run under fheir belfs, fhe men sef ouf for fheir shakedown cruise wifh a greaf degree of eagerness. The gear had been fesfed, fhe men drilled in fheir dufies, and fhe whole deparfmenf looked forward fo seeing fhe air group come aboard. All hands fook a glance af Norfolk before if slid from view, liffle knowing fhaf if would be beffer fhan a year before fhey would see if again. Many fellows began fo dream of fhe girls waifing for fhem fo refurn as fhey lay fhere under fhe balmy sfarlif heaven af Trinidad. Nafurally fhe posf office worked overfime carrying fhose romanfic fhoughfs home. Presenfs were boughf for Chrisfmas and a couple of beer parfies were held. A fesfive mood reigned befween operafions. Then came fhe blow. Feverish acfivify began. Transfer of personnel fook place. Sfores were loaded: fuel faken on. Communicafors became fhe mosf soughf affer group aboard fhe ship. Silence reigned supreme. The crew saw fhe Tokyo-express liff anchor and sail. Soon we were under way. Scuffle ran fhe gamuf. All ears were funed fo fhe familiar announcemenf, This is k '. ,L ., f ,la W r. ,QQ A .,.. fs ., mo- w in 3-,, fhe Capfain speaking. Finally if came, We are on our way fo fhe Panama Canal. No words could have been worse. Hopes of leave were crushed. lf was a mighfy low-feeling group. , Buf communicafions musf go on. Overnighf all Aflan- fic procedures and pracfices had fo be scrapped, for we

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COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT The day arrived for +he commissioning of our ship when +he Boo+s 'From Newpor+ me+ +he Sal+s from Newpor+ News. Oc+ober 9, I944 was a big day in our lives. The men wen+ up +he gangway +o se+ +oo+ on +he deck of +heir +irs+ ship in many ins+ances, +o be ably welcomed and shown around by +hose who had seen i+ grow in i+s las+ s+ages. I+ was a crys+alized depar+- men+. L+. Commander Gallery was +he communica+ions oF+icer wi+h L+. Cohen as his assis+an+. L+. Hann wi+h Ensign S+evens had charge o+ K-l, +he radio gang. L+. Campbell and Ensign Krumm had charge of K-2, +he signal gang. The Yeoman, Mailmen, and Prin+ers were under L+. Reynolds and Ensign S+. Lawrence. L+. Beam and Ensign Gonzalez had charge of +he Pub Locker . Ensign Summers was assis+an+ censor. I+ was an organiza+ion wi+h bu+ 'few of i+s complemen+ familiar wi+h Carrier Communica+ions. The Communica+ions Depar+men+ +unc+ioned well from i+s incep+ion as +he men had been +rained in A+lan+ic procedure and opera+ion. Before +he ship le++ on i+s Chesapeake Bay +rial runs, mos+ 0+ +he men had an ample oppor+uni+y +o become acquain+ed wi+h +he com- par+men+s of ber+hing and messing and opera+ing. I+ may have been a green crew +ha+ s+ood ou+ in+o +he Chesapeake Bay area, bu+ wha+ +hey lacked in ex- perience +hey more +han made up in diligence and zeal and +he weeks spen+ +herein proved +he +ellows had wha+ i+ +akes . Adap+a+ions from previous +ype ships and shore class rooms +o carrier requiremen+s were credi+ably made. Vi i

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' 1 11 Wh i s-if enlered lhe Pacihc. Here lhey played ball lor keeps. New procedures had lo be adopled. Radio operalors benl lo lheir lasks lor lhe increased speed required more concenlralion. Finally il was learned lhe Randy was going lo l'lunler's Poinl, where lhe men were given six days leave. Parlies were held al lhe Palace Holel in lf af, if 'x chi!- va ly San Francisco. Bul Chrislmas had been spenl al sea and lhe holiday season couldn'l be reaclivaled by spirils lrumenlif' Somelhing grim lay ahead. ...,. . .. The Golden Gale laded lrom view and lhe vasl Pacific loomed in lronl. By lhis lime all hands knew lhe busi- ness lor which lhe crew had been lrained was soon lo be enlered. Each day lound lhe going lougher. Trallic became heavier and lhe men had lo keep on lheir loes. Copying became more dillicull wilh lhe increased speed and slalic. GQ began lo lake on meaning. This waS nol praclice, lhis was il. By lhe lime Pearl Harbor was reached, lhe signal gang was in good shape due lo lhe experienced hand ol Mr. Campbell. Messrs. Camp- bell, Hann and Slevens were lhe only ollicers aboard wilh Pacific experience, so lhey look lhe coding board in hand. Aller a shorl slay al Pearl, lhe Randy moved oul +0 keep a rendezvous wilh lhe lamous Task Force 58. ll W65 lo receive a momenlous inilialion inlo lhe big league' The ollicers were galhered logelher in lhe coding Nom by Mr. Gallery who inlormed lhem lhal lhe ship would 'fake parl in lhe lirsl carrier raid on Tokyo! Jusl lour monlhs and seven days lrom lhe day ol commissionin9' lhe ship was lo lake an aclive parl in lhe waf- The morning ol lhe allack came. All hands were Bi